Epilogue

Suddenly Hector was able to feel the ship's movements under his feet again and he raised his eyes from the table where they had been set for he did not know how long. He had been so deeply engaged in his memories that he had not been aware of anything. Casually, he reached his arms out and stretched his powerful muscles.

It had probably been a good thing to reflect upon these things, he told himself reluctantly. He deserved to think about it and remember what a young fool he had been back then. He had almost lost everything because of his own stupidity. Yes, it had been a good and useful lesson.

But then why did it still hurt so much?

The thought annoyed him. He poured himself another cup of water and finished it in one single stroke. But it made no difference. He could still feel the pain. And even though he eagerly tried to deny it; he knew where it came from.

He had not loved her! He told himself furiously. He really hadn't. What he felt for her had been an illusion that she had created, probably through her magic. It had been false and shallow. He had only been a young and easily affected whelp and his attraction had mainly been physical.

But still, the thoughts of her betrayal and treachery hurt him and it wasn't merely because she had degraded and humiliated her. The fact that he had trusted her so completely still bothered him. And even though she had taken her own life, he couldn't help feeling guilt when he realized that he had more or less caused his own sister's death. Her death as well as his own child's. He didn't know why.

After he had married Andromache, he had realized what it was like to live and truly share your life with someone. With Andromache it was all so different. She was everything Lena had never been. She was his wife and his lover, but she was so much more that that. Andromache was a friend, a companion, a counsellor a confidant. Just like he was for her.

When he married Andromache, Hector had made a vow never to make the same mistake again. And he hadn't. For eight years of marriage, he had been unswervingly faithful to his wife. Not once had he let himself be tempted by another woman. Never would he let his family suffer because he hadn't been able to keep himself under control.

Unfortunately though, he hadn't been able to keep his brother under control.

Hector sighed. He really thought Paris had learned his lesson too. After Hector and Andromache's wedding, his behaviour towards the bride had been exemplary. He had treated her with the affection any man would give his brother's wife, but he had never even looked at her in an inappropriate way.

He had continued his untroubled life with feasts and women, much to their father's disapproval. But at least he hadn't got into some sort of disaster. Not until now.

Once again, he remembered Paris eyes as he said the words on the boat deck. "I love her," he had said simply. Hector remembered how he had snorted at his brother's words. Now he realized that he had been wrong. He had never seen that look in his brother's eyes when he talked about a woman before.

He brought to mind her golden hair, her striking eyes and her perfected features. Her unhappiness in her country and with her husband could not have escaped anyone. It wasn't strange that she had attracted the young and hopelessly naive Paris.

If only she was someone else, Hector thought violently. Practically any other woman would have been better than her. Helen of Sparta. Wife of Menelaus; brother of King Agamemnon of Mycenae.

He moved to stand by the window hole again and looked out as the sun was slowly setting by the horizon. No, he couldn't judge his brother, he realized. Not when he had once made the mistake of falling for the wrong woman himself. Not when he had once risked everything for her sake as well.

He should have understood, he berated himself. He should have realized that if Paris ever met a woman he wanted as much as he had wanted Andromache then he wouldn't let anything stand in his way. Not even a possible war against a superior enemy. Not even the prospect of seeing Troy in flames.

"I see everything, Hector. One day, there will be enemies sailing against our country. They will strike hard against our city." He cringed as he remembered Lena's words. So she had been right after all. Not that he had ever really doubted it.

It was done and there was no way back. The enemies would come, sailing towards their shores. And he knew that he was the one who the people would look to for guidance and protection. But would he really have the power to keep Troy safe?

"You would not be able to defend her. Your life would be taken by a superior enemy and our walls would fall." He wasn't afraid of death, he told himself. He would gladly die for the sake of his country. What he feared was what would happen once he was gone.

He felt an even stronger pain in his heart as he thought about his family. His mother was gone now, but his father was still there. Priam had aged since the death of his wife. He had lost some of his power to act and relied more and more on the grey bearded old priests and their omens.

His thoughts went to Briseis. She was now a servant of Apollo, the sun god, much to the pride of her uncle. Hector had never told her about what he knew of her father. He thought it best to keep it as a secret. He remembered Lena's cruel way of calling his cousin a traitor and her predictions. He asked himself what this war would mean for her?

But there were two people he worried about more than anyone else. He thought about his wife; her warm smile and her constant support of him. He ached to hold her again. He loved her so much. He cherished her and admired her. As a matter of fact, he had not believed that he could feel more for her, but when she gave birth to their son, he realized that he had been wrong. Astyanax was almost ten months now and a fine and healthy child. Hector knew that he would do anything to protect them both.

"After you have been killed, your people will be trapped inside the castle of Troy. Your son will be flung from the walls to his death and your wife will be taken as a slave... I curse you with this knowledge, Prince Hector, now and forever..."

Would this also turn out to be true? He asked himself. Or would they get away through the tunnel he had built? He still hadn't told anyone about it, but he knew that it would probably be time to inform Andromache soon.

Standing in front of the window, Hector realized that what he knew didn't make any difference. He still had to fight and he still would fight. He could only give everything to defend his country against the enemies and defy Lena's curse as best he could.

In his dreams he had already seen the moment he would face the enemy. A tall blonde Greek, possessed with hatred and a desire for vengeance. But it didn't matter. No man or woman could escape his or her destiny. He had already learned that.

The end